S.A. Prüm Dry Riesling Wehlen Ortswein 2019

Sitting between the estate's entry-level Blue and the Grosse Gewächs at the top, the Wehlen Ortswein is a village-classification wine (VDP.Ortswein) sourced from young vines within the legendary Sonnenuhr site. Those vines are declassified from Grand Cru status, which means you are getting Sonnenuhr character and terroir without the Grosse Lage price tag. The 2019 vintage brought ideal ripening conditions to the Mosel, producing a wine with notable depth and roundness alongside the site's signature mineral tension.

Quick Facts

• Producer: Weingut S.A. Prüm
• Region: Mosel, Germany
• Appellation: VDP Ortswein (Village Wine)
• Vineyard: Wehlener Sonnenuhr (young vines)
• Grape: 100% Riesling
• Style: Dry (Trocken)
• ABV: 12.5%
• Vintage: 2019

Tasting Profile

Color: Medium gold with bright clarity.

Nose: Fully ripe and expressive, with golden peach, apricot, ripe apple, pineapple, and floral notes. Underlying mineral complexity, with hints of stone and slate.

Palate: Full and round in body, with richly concentrated fruit and a fine, driving acidity. Stone fruit leads through the mid-palate with layers of citrus and tropical character. The finish is long and dry, with a mineral signature that anchors the wine's weight. Fermentation in fuder lends a subtle nuttiness and texture not present in the estate-level Blue.

Why We Love It

This is one of those bottles that makes a strong case for the Ortswein tier. The Sonnenuhr is one of Germany's most famous individual vineyard sites, and sourcing from young vines there still means access to ancient gray Devonian slate, southwest-facing exposure, and the same meticulous hand-harvesting that goes into the estate's top bottles. For guests looking to step up from everyday Riesling without committing to a Grosse Gewächs, this is the move. The 2019 vintage is widely regarded as one of the finest recent years for Mosel Riesling, and this wine shows exactly why.

Winemaking

Grapes are hand harvested and 100% destemmed before pressing. After light skin contact of six to twelve hours, wild yeast fermentation begins, with the must moving into a combination of 1,000-liter oak barrels (fuder) for primary fermentation. The wine rests on its lees for seven months before bottling, adding roundness and complexity. Vegan-friendly fining is used at bottling.

Serving and Pairing

Serve at 52 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Its fuller body and stone fruit richness make it a natural partner for roasted chicken, veal, turkey, duck, pork, and light preparations of lamb. It also holds up well alongside mushroom dishes and cream sauces. A compelling alternative to Burgundian Chardonnay for guests comfortable with richer white wines.

Drinking Window

Drinking beautifully now and through 2029. The combination of natural acidity, extract, and Sonnenuhr terroir gives this wine several more years of development potential in the cellar.

Estate Overview

Established in 1911, S.A. Prüm is one of the Mosel's most iconic estates and a founding member of the VDP. Over 15 hectares of the estate's holdings are within the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, one of Germany's most revered single-vineyard sites, named for the famous sundial painted onto a slate outcrop in 1842 by a Prüm ancestor. Today the estate is owned and led by Saskia Prüm, who assumed full ownership in 2017, becoming the first woman at the head of the estate in its 800-year family history. Raimund Prüm, her father, remains the global ambassador and consultant. All vineyards are farmed organically.